Porter Wagoner (b.August 12, 1927 in the Ozark Mountains Howell County, Missouri) is an American country music singer. Famous for his flashy Nudie suits and blonde pompadour. He introduced a young Dolly Parton to his long running television show and together they were a very successful duet for a number of years.
His first band, The Blue Ridge Boys performed on radio station KWPM from a butcher shop, where Porter cut meat. His big break came in 1951 when he was hired as a performer by station KWTO in Springfield, Missouri. This led to a contract with RCA Records. With lagging sales, Wagoner and his trio played schoolhouses for the gate proceeds.
In 1953, his song Trademark became a hit for Carl Smith followed with a few hits of his own on RCA. He was a featured performer on ABC's Ozark Montain Jubilee and moved to Nashville and joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1957.
Television Show
The Porter Wagoner Show ran on syndicated television for nineteen years from 1960 to 1979. At its peak it was featured in over 100 markets with three million-plus viewers.
The regular cast included:
- Singer Norma Jean Beasler 1960-67
- Singer Dolly Parton 1967-74
- Singer Mel Tillis
- Comedian Speck Rhodes
- Announcer Don Howser
- The house band The Wagonmasters
- Buck Trent on banjo and guitar
- George McCormick on rhythm guitar
- Don Warden on steel guitar
- Mack Magaha on fiddle
- Speck Rhodes on bass fiddle
Dolly Parton replaced the very popular Norma Jean in 1967 to loud complaints from fans, at first, but quickly won over their hearts with her own songs and duets with Wagoner. They recorded thirteen duet albums and had fourteen Top Ten hits. Parton left the show in the mid-1970s and for a while things between them were acrimonious, but they have resolved their differences.
Chart Success
Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002. His eighty-one charted records include “Misery Loves Company” (#1, 1962), “I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand” (#7, 1962–1963), “Sorrow on the Rocks” (#5, 1964), “Green, Green Grass of Home” (#4, 1965), “Skid Row Joe” (#3, 1965–1966), “The Cold Hard Facts of Life” (#2, 1967), and “The Carroll County Accident” (#2, 1968–1969). He also won 3 Grammy Awards for gospel recordings.
Later Career
He has produced many records and appeared in the Clint Eastwood film Honkytonk Man.
Wagoner's positive attitude and engaging persona have made him an ambassador for country music. He appears regularly on the Grand Ole Opry and tours actively as he approaches eighty years of age.
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